Author's Note: All is not well in Middleton, and events are quickly coming to climax. You will also notice a tie in with the "Resolution" storyline as well. The next chapter will be the most crucial one, so enjoy the cliffie. (Yes, I'm evil. I know it. MWAHAHAHAHAHAAA...)

Chapter Nine

The Enemy Pieces Reposition for Assault

The clean mirage of the island in the middle of the lake, reflecting off the surface, broke up with the ripples from the stone as it sailed over the water. It only took four skips this time for it to make it all the way across to the island shore, disturbing a small flock of geese gathered there as it pelted into the sand near them. The geese honked in irritation, strutting away from where the stone landed, glancing around quickly for the danger they were worried it brought. On the lake shore itself, the tall muscular teenager gazed out in their direction, but did not really see them. He was not concerned with anything that might worry the geese. His eyes glazed over as he stood there, almost motionless, before stooping down and picking up another pebble He reared back and flung it as hard as he could across the lake surface just as the ripples from the previous toss smoothed out. The pebble bounced jaggedly across the water and landed near the geese again, close enough to startle them into take flight and head away to the other side of the lake. The young man paid them no heed, staring at everything and nothing. He was still for a moment, then walked slowly back up the shore again, as he had been doing, going back and forth, for the better part of the afternoon.

He didn't hear the noise as much as sense it, at first. When it finally did reach his ears, he knew immediately who it was. He did nothing about it, just standing there looking out over the lake. The SUV that disturbed the quiet of his thoughts slowly cruised in and parked beside his truck. The door opened to reveal a shorter teenager who got out slowly and shut it. He looked around and quickly spotted the object of his search on the lake shore, sighing and shaking his head before walking up to him. He stared out over the lake with the taller boy, not speaking for a good half minute.

"Didn't think you'd find me here.", the taller one finally said.

The other boy shrugged, "Wasn't that hard. You were nowhere in town, so I figured you were at the cabin. This was probably about the only other place you'd go."

"Yeah.", said the taller boy, "That makes sense. I guess you know me pretty good, Jer."

"You're my best friend, Jace. What'd you think?"

Jason turned and grinned at him, "You're right. I shouldn't be surprised."

"So, what up, man? What'cha doing here?"

Jason's face soured again as he looked back out over the lake.

"Hell, man. I had to get away. After the shellacking the team got from Upperton High in the state tourney, I just had to get away. Damn, I should have been there! That sunk so many chances for me. I'll be lucky to get a bench warming spot at Podunk College, now."

"It's not that bad, Jace. You got way too much talent to ignore. You can still walk onto a major college team without a problem. And you sure don't need the scholarship to pay for it."

Jason looked down at the ground for a moment before peering out over the lake again.

"Maybe.", he muttered, "It would have never happened if that damn nerd had screwed me over."

Jeremy grimaced, "What did you expect? Especially after what you did."

"I didn't do nothing!", retorted Jason, looking at him angrily, "I don't start fights, man! I finish them!"

His friend shook his head in exasperation, "Jason, are you kidding? How can you say that? Especially after they talked to Dr. Estevez!"

Jason snorted angrily and walked off, still looking out over the lake as if it somehow had an answer to his dilemma.

"I know about the old geezer, man!", he said virulently, "I found out he's thick with the nerd's family, has been for years. Taught him to play chess. He had to have changed his story to back his little protégé up."

He gazed back at Jeremy, sure that his friend would support him in this, but was surprised to see him looking upset.

"He doesn't do that, Jason.", he said tersely, "I've known him a long time."

"How would you know?", Jason challenged, "You weren't there until the end of the fight."

"What fight?", cried Jeremy loudly, his eyes going wide, "There was no fight! You were on the ground! Drunk out of your gourd again! There was no fight because he put you down."

"No way, man!", Jason yelled, "That nerd could never do that to me!"

"Not him!", interrupted Jeremy, "Dr. Estevez!"

Confused, Jason's head snapped back, staring in surprise, unable to respond while he digested that.

"What are you talking about?", he queried, "How could that old man..."

"I saw that much, Jason!", Jeremy said angrily, cutting him off again, "He punched you with the end of his cane and you were so drunk you stumbled and fell!"

They both became quiet, the words hanging between them.

"You don't remember, do you?", Jer said.

Jason looked askance at him, not wanting to admit it, but grudgingly said, "No. I don't."

"Any of it?"

Jason frowned and took a deep breath. Letting it out he turned away and began walking down the shore line again. Jeremy caught up and walked with him, neither speaking for some time.

"Last thing I remember,", said Jason, "was getting into the truck with you after the party at Jarvis' place."

Jeremy nodded silently, saying nothing at first.

"Yeah, so how do you know it happened the way you said?"

"I just know.", Jason replied haughtily, "I don't go after people like that."

"Even the nerd?"

Jason studied the ground again before staring back up at him.

"Not unless he started it.", he said in a confident tone, convinced he was right, "You don't know, man. You weren't there at the beginning."

Jeremy frowned again and looked away, "Well it really doesn't matter now, does it? They're going with his story."

"Got that right.", Jason muttered in disgust.

There was nothing left to argue on that point. They continued to stroll down the shore in silence. Jeremy started to enjoy the spring weather a little, trying to relax.

"I thought you were grounded.", he said after a time.

"I am.", Jason replied, "Got a spare set of keys to the truck."

"But your dad..."

"...is gone on another business trip for three days and Mom's too busy at work to notice. They'll never know."

Jeremy's eyebrows raised up at that, "Jeez, I couldn't get away with that with my parents."

"Maybe that's better for you.", Jason muttered as he picked up another stone and threw it across the water.

"So, what now?"

"Well, Dad managed to get me back in class, so I can graduate on time without having to worry about summer school. I just have to keep things quiet until I'm done. Then I'll go look for a university that will take me."

"That shouldn't be too hard."

"Yeah. I've actually already had a couple of phone calls from some officials at a couple of places."

"Good."

"You're still headed for Vancouver, aren't you?"

"Yeah, it's a great college program they have there."

"Hey, I'm glad for you, Jer. You're a damn good hockey player. You deserve it."

Jeremy smiled, "Thanks. But you'll do good real good, too, man. Really. Just wait and see."

Jason smiled back and said quietly, "Yeah, thanks."

Jeremy picked up a dead branch and dragged along in the sand, creating a jagged line behind him as they skirted the water. Deep in their own thoughts, they reached the end of the beach-like area where the trees came up right to the water's edge, then turned around to head back in the direction of the trucks. Jason was musing over his options, trying to keep from being too worried about the future, just enjoying the company of his friend. Jeremy being there really bolstered his courage and mood. Jeremy, in turn, was fretting about the next words coming out of his mouth because he knew they might really stir Jason up. Still, he was determined to say what was on his mind.

Finally, Jeremy said, "There's one thing, Jason. And I'm telling you as a friend. You have got to stay off the booze now."

Jason didn't look at him, but pursed his lips and nodded slowly, clearly telling Jeremy he knew it.

"I know, Jer.", he replied quietly, "I've already started. Haven't had a drop since regionals, almost two weeks now."

Jeremy breathed easier, glad that his friend was accepting of the truth at last, but he was still tense. He knew the next subject might be even worse.

"That's good, Jace. That's good."

They walked further for another minute until Jeremy got enough courage to speak again.

"There's one more thing, Jace."

"Yeah?"

"You have got to put this Tara thing behind you once and for all. It's done. Over. You've got to get on with your life."

Jason stopped and stared hard at him.

"Yeah.", he murmurred as he turned and looked out over the lake again, squinting at the bright flashes of sunlight blinking off the water.

"Yeah."

"Will you get it in line, Tara?" shrieked Bonnie as the blonde girl struggled to keep in step with the rest of the girls, "It's bad enough, you lost us State! I don't want things to go south at the Mad Dog Day recital!"

That was one step too far for Tara. She abruptly stopped the routine, dropped her streamers, and walked off the line straight at Bonnie, her rage clearly etched on her face.

"That's it!", she yelled, "Either you get off my back or so help me!..."

"Or what? You loser!", shouted Bonnie, standing her ground, equally angry.

Tara had already raised her fists when Kim landed between the two of them, physically pushing them apart before they could get to each other.

"Stop it!" she screamed, straining to keep them apart, "Stop! It! Now!!"

With a final shove, she threw them both away from her. Furious herself, she looked at both of them in turn.

"That is it!", she yelled, "No more! This practice is cancelled! As of now!"

The rest of the girls took the cue to heart and didn't even complain, rapidly gathering their belongings and heading for the showers.

Still enraged, Kim turned to her co-captain, "Bonnie! You had better quit riding Tara! It's way so unfair! And I'm not going to tolerate it any more!"

"You can't boss me around, Possible!", Bonnie retorted, "I'm just as much a co-captain as you are!"

"Don't remind me! And you need to remember that I'm the one who gave you that position! I'm beginning to regret it more and more every day! Now scat! Go! Get out of here, until you can control yourself!"

"No! We still have a lot of work!", Bonnie yelled, stopping when she noticed the gym was empty. The other girls except Jess had already disappeared.

Bonnie scowled, "Now look at what you've done! We'll never get that routine down in time, now!"

"Get out of here, Bonnie! Before I change my mind and let Tara have you!"

Bonnie blinked her eyes. She wasn't worried when the other girls were there, but now...

"I'm going to the administration about this, Possible!", she yelled over her shoulder as she walked towards the exit.

"Do your worst, Rockwaller!", retorted Kim, crossing her arms and frowning at Bonnie's back as she left the gym.

Once Bonnie was gone, her shoulders slumped as she let the anger go. She turned to look at Tara, who had folded her arms around herself, her face in anguish. She let the tears come.

"Why?", she yelled in exasperation, "What is her problem with me?"

Kim came to her and put her arm around her shoulders as Jess hugged her, letting her cry it out.

"I don't know, Tara. I don't know.", said Jess soothingly.

Tara quickly got herself back together and dried her eyes. Jess and Kim waited patiently.

"Thanks, guys.", she said as she let go, wiping her face clean, "I'll be okay. It's just that, you know."

"Yeah, I know."muttered Kim hotly, "Don't worry. She can't do anything with school admin. They've got her number already."

"Got that right", added Jess, "But next time, Possible, you ought to just let Tara have her. "

"I'd so love to!", Kim replied, "But, you know I can't. I have to keep the peace."

"What about practice?"

"I'll worry about that when I get back."

"Where are you headed?"

"Oh, got this thing in L.A. I was invited to lecture to some elementary school kids on safety."

"In L.A?", asked Jess, "All the way out there?"

"Unfortunately." , Kim shrugged, "The price of fame, you know. I tell you, ever since Christmas, my life has gotten so complicated."

Tara smiled, coming out of her blue funk, "Yeah, but in a good way, right? And it looks like the Ronster had a lot to do with it, too, huh?"

Kim blushed, smiling at that and saying, "I guess so, when he doesn't have foot and mouth disease, that is. But, yeah, he's really been amazing, mostly."

"That's great. Kim.", said Jess, "So are you going to be gone long?"

"Just a day, I think. Shouldn't take longer than that. I'll work on Bonnie when I get back."

"Good", said Jess, "In the meantime, I'll take care of Tara."

Tara frowned at her.

"Hey, Sundstrum, I don't need a babysitter."

"I know." Jess replied calmly, "But I do need to fix your mascara. You look like that raccoon that sneaked into the cafeteria and ate the mystery meat."

"You mean the one that died soon after?"

"Yep."

"Ouch.", said Tara with a wince, "Okay, let's hit the bathroom."

Bonnie barged thought the front door of her house in a huff, heading for the kitchen. Plopping her books down on the kitchen table, she opened the fridge and took out a Fruit-two-oh, popping the cap off. She took a good swig of it as she closed the fridge back up. She was still as mad as a baited pit bull, standing there, tapping her foot nervously, and replaying the afternoon's scene again through her head.

"Looks like you had fun."

Bonnie turned to see her older sister Connie leaning up against the door jamb.

"Another joyous day taking orders from her highness?"

"Can it, Connie!", she spat, "I don't need your pseudo-psychoanalysis!"

"I can see that, 'sister'.", she replied sarcastically, then said more softly, "But you could use my help."

"Huh!", Bonnie snorted, "After your little plan backfired the way it did at the cheer squad party last summer, I don't think your help would be much help at all."

Connie turned one hand and inspected her perfectly glossed nails as she replied lazily, "Hey, it's not my fault if the execution was faulty. You should have had your prize stud do a better job of taking Blondie back."

"As if!", retorted Bonnie, 'You heard what happened.."

"Yeah, well, like I said. I guess you really don't want to be captain that bad."

Bonnie turned on her sister, angry.

"I will be captain when I graduate!", she groused, "You just wait and see!"

"Not until you take care of the Blondie problem.", Connie cooed.

Contemptuous, Bonnie sneered at her, "And I suppose you have a way to make that happen?"

"Well.", she said coyly, "From what I understand, that trouble Jason got into was because the nerd started a fight with him, and he had to be bailed out, right? Then the nerd told some whopper that Jason started it all in the first place."

"Yeah. So?"

"Well, it would have been nice if someone had a video of it to prove him wrong, don't you think?"

'Huh!", Bonnie snorted again, "It's a little late for that!"

"Maybe not."

She frowned at her older sister.

"What do you mean?"

"What if they happened to meet again? What if nerd boy started something again? And then somebody just happened to have a cell phone handy."

'You mean, arrange a meet?"

"On the sly, of course.", Connie said, smiling, "Just let nature take its course. If he started it last time, just make sure Jason gets him to start something again. Then you can prove he lied the first time."

Bonnie stared at her sister thoughtfully, "Hey, you know that might just work."

"Of course it'll work.", Connie replied with a markedly devilish grin, "but you had better get it in gear soon. You only have a month to get Possible out of the way."

Yeah.", muttered Bonnie and she squinted her eyes in deep thought, "Yeah."

The next day saw things seemingly back to normal for the most part. Jason's dad had managed to reduce the damage so that Jason was only suspended for three days. He had been back in class since then for close to a week and a half. Everywhere he went, he was still greeted warmly by a lot of students, many of who offered their condolences for the raw deal he got. His team mates and some of the other jocks would come up and high five and shake hands, cheering him up and telling him they would have definitely won state if only he had been there.

Some of the teachers were similarly sympathetic, but most of them looked at him rather coldly. He frowned sullenly, thinking, 'Sure, they're going to take the nerd's side'. The one who gave him the most severe look was the calculus teacher, Mr. Amberson. 'That figures", he mused. Luckily, he never had take any of his nerdy course classes.

But the coaches were another matter, especially Coach Sanders. Despite his own explanation of his side of the story, the coaches didn't really accept it. Some of them said that they understood, but they didn't sound too convinced. However, Coach Sanders made his view crystal clear, coldly letting Jason know that he was aware of Jason's drinking problem and that he was not about to contradict the word of a respected retired physician of the community. Jason knew then that his relationship with the coach was permanently altered. The only good that might come out of it was that the season was over and he was about to graduate, so it didn't really matter that much.

But even as Coach Sanders made it known he thought the fight was Jason's fault, he was willing to put it in the past as long as Jason wasn't drinking. He was really upbeat about the fact Jason had really stopped and was still willing to help him get into a college he wanted, but warned him he had to make a decision very, very soon. Jocks who were likely to get picked up for their skills could put off choosing a college until this late, but one month away from graduation was really pushing it. Jason was grateful for that much and had given him the list of colleges he was thinking of attending, as well as the list of scouts who had contacted him. The coach said he would follow up on those and other contacts.

He was thinking about that between classes as he changed his schoolbooks for the next course and closed his locker door, only to find someone standing behind it.

"Hello there, Jason!", she said pertly.

He looked startled as he peered at Bonnie's smiling face.

"Oh, uh... ...hey there, Bonnie. How's it going?"

"Just fine!", she purred, "I just thought I would come and say hi, you know, with all the rough things have been happening lately for you, what with the basketball thing and all."

"Uh, yeah."

"Listen, come and walk with me a bit while we go to class. After all you've been through, I'm sure you could use a little cheering up and stuff. Uh, let's go this way."

"Math class is the other way."

"I figured we take the scenic route. We got time."

"Uh, sure."

"So, you know that I've been talking to the cheer squad and they're all dying to know how you're doing and if you're all right."

"The cheer squad?"

"I'm not counting the obvious losers. You know who I mean, don't you?"

"Right. I get you."

"Anyway, It's just that this is so unfair. I mean everybody who is anybody here knows the real truth. You know you should get a lawyer and sue."

They walked slowly down the hallway, Bonnie doing all the talking with Jason occasionally murmuring a 'yes', 'no', or 'sure' in between. He was wondering why she was being so attentive, definitely unusual for her. He let her babble on, constantly reassuring him that things were going to be great and how nobody believed for a second the story that loser boyfriend of Tara's told had any truth to it. Jason and Bonnie were pretty good friends anyway, or at least they seemed to be. Just before the beach bash party at the nerd's house, he even asked her out, suggesting they might be a good couple. But she shut him down, saying she was sticking with Brick. He had to give her some props though. She let him down gently. Still, she was never this nice with a boy unless she was really hot for someone, so it was kind of weird to him. Jason continued to nod his head as she went on, actually enjoying the attention. Several students said 'hi' to them both as they walked along, including a couple more of the basketball players who came up smiling and giving him high fives. He traded a couple of quick comments with them before he and Bonnie went on down the hall. He could see the gossip mill already starting, too. Everyone was looking at them like maybe they were actually going to be a new item. He chuckled to himself.

Bonnie saw this also and smiled. Actually she wouldn't have minded too much. Jason was a hell of a catch and Tara was nuts to let him go. But she was at the top of the food chain, which meant she had to have the top jock, and that was Brick. As hot as Jason was, quarterbacks had one up on him. She still preferred the beefier types.

They turned around a corner to head back towards class. They had about two or three minutes left, and Bonnie was suggesting a get-together.

"So.", Bonnie continued, "I just thought that Brick and I and you could get together sometime and we could go out. I'm sure we could find you the right girl."

Bonnie looked over to find Jason wasn't beside her. She turned and saw he had stopped a few paces behind, staring at the side entrance to the auditorium which they had just passed. The door was open. Bonnie frowned and went back to see what he was looking at. Jason's face had gone white, looking stunned.

Bonnie peered into the deep shadows, squinting hard. She saw movement in there in the dim light. But then, she could make out two figures moving a short distance way from the curtains to where the available illumination from above would hit them just right. She saw what Jason saw. Tara and Kevin, the shadows camouflaging them well, but still clear enough for her to see them in an embrace passionate enough to melt steel. Bonnie smiled. She had calculated this right on the money.

Jason couldn't stop staring, his attention rapt, until he felt a tugging on his arm. Bonnie pulled at him silently, putting a finger to her mouth to warn him to be quiet. He looked at her blankly before looking back at the two of them, the angst of loss so clear on his face. Bonnie pulled again, harder, finally getting him to move and keep on walking, only now he trudged along, numbed into shock.

"Forget about it, Jason.", she said haughtily, "You definitely don't want to be seen around people like them."

He stared ahead, almost uncomprehending.

"She...", he muttered, "She..."

This was easier than she had thought.

"Come on, Jason!", she said supportively, "You really don't want to get involved with those kind of losers. Get real! They have no class. Do you know they are all over each other like that all the time, too. I mean like in Public! Like animals in heat! It's so nauseating that they do that every night when he walks her home from his house to hers. It's so easy for them too since they live so close together."

"I got to talk to her.", he whispered, a look of agitation in his eyes, "I don't want trouble. I just need to ask her."

"What for, Jason? Really, you don't want to be seen around trash like that. It's not worth it. You don't want to start anything and get in trouble again."

"I don't want to start anything. I just need to talk to her."

Bonnie looked around as they approached the door to Math class, then said quietly, "Well, if you do, remember this. Don't start anything! Okay?"

The bell rung as Jason dumbly nodded at her, barely hearing her. He didn't move.

"We better go into class, Jason."

Nodding, he preceded her slowly and took his seat. She silently laughed in triumph to herself, barely able to keep her satisfaction private. Of course she knew all the different hiding spots where Tara would take her boyfriend when she needed privacy. After all she was the one who showed them to her back when they were freshmen. And she knew exactly how Jason would respond if he saw them like that...

'Boys.', she thought to herself, almost purring, 'They are so easy. Now that he knows how to find them. All I have to do is wait until the fireworks begin, and I'll be waiting.'

It was late. Jeremy Wendell entered the gym looking for Jason. He felt really good after yesterday at the lake. Jason seemed to have finally come around and made the decision to stop obsessing over Tara as well as stay sober. He really hoped this was the turning point for him, so that he could finally straighten himself out. They spent the rest of the afternoon joking and laughing, even wrestling like they used to before she broke up with him and totally changed his mood. The old Jason was finally coming back. Wanting to take in a movie, he was looking for him here thinking he might be checking with the coaches about his college prospects.

Running into Bill Stowkowski, he asked, "Hey, Bill. Running late today, huh?"

"Ah, you know how it is. Had some weight work to do."

"Sure do. Seen Jason?"

"Naw, but I saw him leave for home right after math class. Looked kind of funny though, now that you mention it."

"Oh? Was he sick?"

"I don't think so. He was talking to Rockwaller before class, and he looked kind of upset. I don't know, man. Maybe he asked her out or something and she spiked him. You know how she is. It's Brick or nobody."

"Yeah.", replied Jeremy, his brows furrowing in concern, "Got that right."

"Anyway, if I see him I'll let him know you're looking. Okay?"

"Sure thing. Thanks."

"You bet", Bill said with a grin as he left the gym.

'Why would Jason ask Bonnie out?', he thought, 'He wouldn't do that, but then why were they talking in the first place?'

Jeremy hashed it through in his mind. Why was Bonnie Rockwaller talking to him? He didn't care much for that bossy social climber, even she did have some useful contacts in hooking them up with dates. But if what Bill said was accurate, Jason was long gone, and Bonnie might have something to do with it. He regretted now that he had stayed so late, but the hockey team had been having some extended off season workouts going on for the next school year and the coach had asked Jeremy to help with one really talented freshmen, the one the coach had picked to take over for him. He had just finished with that, so it was close to six o'clock now. He pulled out his cell and called Jason, but only got voice mail. That worried him. He decided to go over and make sure he was okay. Jason never let anything go to voice mail if he could help it. He hated the annoying feature. As Jeremy walked swiftly towards his SUV, he decided to try and call Bonnie, but got the same thing with her.

"Damn.", he muttered to himself, "She always was too snotty to answer it unless it was somebody she really wanted to talk to."

He left a voice message asking her to call back and then slapped his cell phone shut, shoving it into his pocket as he approached his wheels. Opening the door, he climbed in and pulled on his seat belt, shoved the key in the starter and gunned the motor into life. His gut was bothering him about this and he was getting more and more concerned.

He screeched out of the parking lot towards Jason's house. Getting another idea, he pulled out the cell again and phoned Jason's house directly, but only got the answering machine. He wondered if Jason was there anyway. Noticing his speed was a little high, he remembered to keep under the speed limit as much as he could. Still, he took off in places he was fairly sure he wouldn't be caught. 'But if Jason was gone', he thought, 'that would be wasted time.' He needed help. He punched the cell phone buttons again, pulling up the numbers he wanted. The first one was Bill. It rang three times before he answered, much to Jeremy's relief.

"Hello?"

"Bill! It's Jer! Listen, I need some help. I can't find Jason. He's not answering his phone."

"What are you talking about, Jer? Is he in trouble?"

"I don't know. Bill. I don't know. I just got a bad feeling when you told me about math class."

"Are you sure, Jer?"

"I'm sure, Bill! Something's up. This isn't usual for him."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Get a couple more of the guys, will you? See if they can help find him."

"And if we find him?"

"Just make sure he's all right and not doing something stupid, okay? If you find him, call me. I'll do the same for you If I run into him first."

"Okay, man. I'll let you know."

"Thanks, Bill. See you."

Bonnie waited impatiently as she leaned up against the tree near the road to the nerd's house. It had been a little farther from Tara's home than she thought, but not so much that a good walk couldn't cover it. There would still be plenty enough opportunity for Jason to find them. She hefted the video camera in her hand, deciding to use that to get a better quality image than a cell phone. She had also parked her car well away on a side street so nobody should run into it, but was still close enough to reach quickly.

It was perfect. She had done some of her running on the track around this park, sometimes even with Tara, so it gave her an excuse to be here. She had dressed the part, too, just in case she ran into somebody that knew her. She was glad for it as the mud around the trees had really gunked her running shoes up. No way was she going to be out in this muck with good heels. She thought sourly how it rained so heavily a couple of days ago, making the ground wet. So far she hadn't seen anybody, and the sky was darkening again, thunder softly fluttering through the air from a distance. Looking up, she saw the clouds rolling in towards her.

Her face went sour, testily thinking, 'They better all hurry up and get here! I do not want to get wet! I'll bet Tara and the 'nerd' are running late, as usual.'

She grimaced and folded her arms, looking out from behind the tree as she became more restless.

'Maybe he'll drive her home today because of the weather.', she worried, 'Well, there are other days. I know Jason was agitated enough to come out tonight and look for them. If they don't show, I can just meet him 'accidentally' while running and..."

But then she spotted two figures slowly walking down the side of the road, a blond girl and brown headed boy about the same height.

Bonnie grinned evilly and whispered to herself, "Showtime."

Jeremy gunned the engine again as he raced down the street to Jason's house, screeching into the driveway. Looking around, he tried to find his truck and couldn't see it anywhere. 'It could be in the back.', he thought. Jeremy parked his SUV and got out, slamming the door shut and he headed for the front entrance. He knew Jason's mother wouldn't be home yet and his father was still out of town. That explained why there were no other cars in the driveway. He went up to the front door and rang the bell and waited.

There was no answer. He rang again and waited some more, his restlessness worsening. Trying the door, he was surprised to find it unlocked. Opening it, he looked inside cautiously.

"Hello!", he yelled.

"Jason? Are you home? Jason?"

No one answered. He was in the foyer of the mansion-like residence. Thinking Jason might be in the den, he walked in that direction when his phone suddenly rang. He stopped and open it up. Jason's name popped up on the ID.

Jeremy practically yelled into the receiver, "Jason! Where are you, man? Why didn't you answer me before?"

There was no reply at first, then...

"Uh, sorry, Jer. I was busy. But I had to find out... ..I have to ask... ...she never did that, you know."

Jeremy's face screwed up in surprise.

"Huh? What are you talking about, man? She never did what? Where are you?"

"She never did... ...what street?... ...uh, Aspen View?... ...I'm not sure."

"Jason!", screamed Jeremy, "What's going on?"

There was another dreadful silence except for the motor noise coming out of Jason's truck, then...

"She never kissed me like that, Jer... ...She never felt that way about me... ...like him..."

The phone went dead.

"Jason!", he cried.

The connection was gone. He stood in the den of Jason's house and wondered what to do, when he thought, 'Aspen View,' he said, "Aspen View. That's Aspen View Road!'

He turned to leave, punching speed dial to catch up with Bill Stowkowski and tell him where to go, but as he did his eyes fell on the corner of the room and went wide.

"Oh no.', he whispered, and then rushed out of the house as he dialed the phone, leaving the wet bar with its broken lock just as it was, the empty bottle of Jose Cuervo Gold laying on the carpet.

Author's addendum: Here finishes the inbetween chapters I had to construct to connect the beginning and the end. I've already written the last five chapters and the epilogue, but will need to edit them a little. I should have Chapter Ten out by the end of the week. I hope you won't be on pins and needles for too long providing I did my job well enough. :-)